According to Huawei Marine, Tropic Science Co., Ltd., China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd., China Construction Bank and Huawei Marine Networks signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the PEACE submarine cable project at the 3rd Asia Pacific Submarine Networks Forum on October 17. The PEACE undersea cable network will span approximately 6,800 km to connect South Asia (via Pakistan) and East Africa (via Djibouti and Kenya).

PEACE Submarine Cable Project, MOU Signing Ceremony

The PEACE submarine network will offer the shortest submarine fiber cable route from China to Africa, with links to Europe via land fiber cable transit. China Construction Bank will provide the project financing. With the MOU in place, work on the project will begin next month with a goal to launch the PEACE undersea network by the third quarter of 2019.

Africa is a particularly ripe market for investment because of the rapidly growing number of internet users and increasing demand for connectivity.